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Hi I would be grateful for any help your collective brains can give me! I have booked flights to Alicante for Mid September. 5 girls in their mid. Was planning on booking a hotel close to the beach in Alicante but have had a bit of a change of heart as we will be there Monday to Saturday and although we don't want a crazy boozed up abroad holiday, we do want a good nightlife. Can Alicante do this? Will there be a few pubs and maybe even a nightclub or two busy during the week?

A hotel like the Melia would give you lots of options. The old town and Rambla, 5 minutes away, has lots of bars and cafes, open until early morning (we were there midweek in June and everything was going strong when we left at about 2- we're not as young as we once were!). Also, beyond the casino, further out into the harbour, there are lots of bars and some clubs. No idea when they close, but people were just starting to come in when we were leaving at 2.

Alicante is a city with all the nightlife you would expect. In September (as the rest of the year) bars are open midweek and fairly busy. The main hub for nightlife is the Barrio (old town) and the Marina. Some bars close around midnight but many others are open til 3am. Night clubs are not my thing so not sure of the opening times but have encountered clubbers leaving the clubs at the Marina coming home at 7am.

Nightlife in Alicante, even at the weekend is fairly chilled. I've never had any hassle and the atmosphere is friendly. There is also a fairly large gay scene in Alicante. The bars around the the marina are the most commercial/touristy while the old town has a real mix. There are some great bars of the Rambla de Méndez Núñez and the wee squares and plazas.

The bar on the rooftop of the Amerigo hotel is worth a wee visit for the great views. Soho Parc is a great outdoor bar that sits in the Plaza de Elche. It is covered with trees and has a great atmosphere. There are a couple of other bars on the Plaza de Elche that are pretty good also.

Shopping in Alicante is also pretty good with a dedicated commercial area. Many big name Spanish and European stores, including two El Cortes Ingles department stores.

Hotel wise, both the Melia and Maris overlook the beach. Both are 4 star. The Hospes Amerigo is the only 5 star in the city and is a boutique style hotel located in the old town. The Lucentium is also a good choice but it is a 10 min walk from the beach but right in the heart of things.